Drew Ernst, a Partner in the Firm's Savannah office, practices in the areas of Real Estate Development, Industrial Development, and Environmental Law. He has extensive experience in representing clients in coastal development matters including issues arising under the various facets of Georgia's Coastal Zone Management Act. He also represents clients before regulatory agencies in obtaining permits under the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act and the Solid Waste Management Act. He has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America for Environmental Law since 1997.

Mr. Ernst has written numerous articles on environmental and real estate issues, including "Responding to the Challenge of the 404 Permit", published in the Economic Development Review and co-authored "Water Water Everywhere, Better Call the Corps: Section 404 Regulation of Wetlands", Vol. 41 No. 3 Mercer L. Rev. 843 (1990). Mr. Ernst has also been a frequent speaker on environmental and real estate topics at seminars sponsored by different organizations, including The Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Georgia, The American Economic Development Council, the Natural Resources, Energy, and Environmental Law Section of the American Bar Association, and Executive Enterprises.

Mr. Ernst served as a Trustee of The Georgia Conservancy from 1989 to 1995, as a Director of the Atlantic Coast Conservation Association from 1987 to 1999, and as a Board Member of the Olympic Environmental Support Group of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games. Mr. Ernst received the Savannah Jaycees Outstanding Community Services Award for 1982. He presently serves on the Advisory Board of the Savannah Economic Development Authority, as a Director of the Coastal Georgia Land Trust and as a Director of the Armstrong Atlantic State University Foundation.

Mr. Ernst is a member of the Savannah Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and the State Bar of Georgia. He served as the State Representative at Large of the Environmental Law Section of the Georgia Bar Association from 1993 to 1995, and again in 1997.

Mr. Ernst received his Bachelor of Arts, Magna Cum Laude, from Armstrong State College in 1974, and his Juris Doctor from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1977. At Armstrong, he received the Silver A Award for Academic and Civic Achievement. In law school, he served on the editorial board of the Georgia Journal of International and Comparative Law.

• Publications

  • Don't Let the Mud Hit the Fan - Wetlands Legislation is Often Overlooked by Business Owners.
  • The 404 Permit That Couldn't, But Did
  • The Development of Hutchinson Island-Savannah-Chatham County's Public-Private Partnership
  • Water, Water Everywhere, Better Call the Corps: Section 404 Regulation of Wetlands

• Professional Affiliations

  • American Bar Association
    
  • Savannah Bar Association
    
  • State Bar of Georgia